Louisville fires Rick Pitino amid federal investigation

by GARY B. GRAVES, AP SPORTS WRITER

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, file photo, Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino leaves Grawemeyer Hall after having a meeting with the university's interim president Greg Postel in Louisville. Ky. A federal probe illuminates a shady side of college basketball recruiting filled with bribes and kickbacks. The probe also implicated Louisville for paying a player to attend the school, leading to Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich to be placed on administrative leave. (Michael Clevenger/The Courier-Journal via AP, File)

Louisville's Athletic Association has officially fired coach Rick Pitino nearly three weeks after the school acknowledged that its men's basketball program is being investigated as part of a federal corruption probe.

The association, which oversees Louisville's sports programs and is composed of trustees, faculty, students and administrators, voted to oust the longtime Cardinals coach following a board meeting Monday.

The association on Oct. 2 authorized university interim President Greg Postel to begin the process of firing Pitino for cause after Postel placed him on unpaid administrative leave Sept. 27.

Pitino, 65, is not named in court complaints in the federal probe but Postel said in a disciplinary letter that the allegations violated his contract.

The move Monday officially ends Pitino's 16-year tenure with the program, a run that included winning the 2013 NCAA championship but was tarnished by several embarrassing off-court incidents.

Pitino previously coached the Providence College Friars and the Boston Celtics.